Handbag



H. V. RITTER Feb. 1s, 1936.

HANDBAG Filed DGO. 6, 1935 Iggy- --u' 1.5' il i? Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE HANDBAG Harry V. Ritter, New York, N. Y.

Application December 6, 1935, Serial No. 53,183

4 Claims.

This invention relates to portable receptacle devices, with particular reference to handbags.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved closure means so associated with a bag as to inherently allow for a. large or unusually capacious bag.

Another object of the linvention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth which comprises improved bag and closure means. interrelated for a particularly convenient examination of the bag contents and yet assuring a compact and reliable closing arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of the nature set forth including an improved frame structure to which the bag may be connected in an especially simple and cheap manner and for a neat and novel operation in opening and closing.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a device of the class alluded to having relatively few and simple parts, and which are inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, durable, reliable and eflicient in use, and neat, compact and novel in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will vbecome apparent as the specification pro-v ceeds. l'

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing in closed position a device embodying the invention.

Fig. .2 is a view in end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation showing the device in open position.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views in vertical section taken on the lines 4 4 and 5 5 of Fig. 3.l

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal cross section taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a view in elevation in openl position of a frame embodying the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a structure which may bey applied to the device or used as a modication therein, withY cer- Y tain parts moved into an inoperative but plane position toclearly show the structure.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the broken (Cl. 15G-42) line 9 9 of Fig. 8, but with said structure in normally closed position.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I9 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may include a bag II having a iirst side wall I2 and a second side wall I3. The side walls may be interconnected as by end expansible or gusset portions I4, foldable inward as along vertical fold lines I5. The bag I I is closed at the bottom and may have a top opening characterized in that the first side wall I2 may desirably have its upper edge at I6 at a somewhat higher elevation than the corresponding edges of the gussets and the second side wall.

Associated with the bag II, is a closure means which may include a frame I1. The latter may comprise one or more frame members for longitudinally stiffening or tensioning the bag to facilitate a tight closure thereof. Preferably frame members I8, I9 may be provided for the respective side walls I2, I3 and movable toward and away from each other to cause or permit opening and closing of the bag. Desirably said movement may be a swinging one, as about an upright axis at an end of the bag. To facilitate this result, each frame member may be of angle shape, channeled throughout, and hence 4comprising a horizontal arm 20 and an upright 4arm 2l. YThe latter may be pivotally or hingedly interconnected as at 22, and a coil spring 23 may extend around a common pintle pin for the hinges, with the opposite ends of the spring connected in any suitable manner to respective frame members to tend to swing the latter into .a common plane or open position as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The horizontal arm 20 of frame member I9 may be substantially wider in the upright direction than the corresponding arm 2|) of the frame member I8; and this may be eifected as by securing a plate 24 to the frame member I9 in any suitable manner. The plate 24 may terminate in spaced relation to the arm 2| of the frame member I9. Overlying the arms 20 are the individual barsv 25, each being secured at its ends 26 to the ends of the corresponding arms 20. A ring 21 having a finger piece 28 may be engaged around the bars 25, and adapted to .assume the position at the hinge 22 in the full open position of the frame .as in Figs. 3 and '1, and adapted for sliding movement along said bars to the opposite end thereof as shown in Fig. 2 in the closed position of the device.

It will be noted that in the open position of the frame as in Fig. 7, all parts of the frame structure may lie in or along a plane. When the frame is in closed position, the frame members I8, I9 lie closely alongside of each other as indicated in Fig. 2, and with the frame members in substantial coincidence with each other.

The interior of the bag may be lined with a lining 29 throughout. The first wall I2 may be reenforced by any sheet of material 30. 'Ihe channel arm 2|] of the frame member I8 may be clamped over the upper edge of the wall I2 including the lining .and reenforcement.

For housing the frame members I8, I9, the upright arms 2I thereof may be inserted downward in a corner of the bag, between an outer layer of the first side wall I2 and the lining thereof, and with the wall I2 clamped in the arm 20 of the frame member I8. To afford additional support for the frame, an angle wire 3| may have an upright arm 32 suitably secured to an upright arm 2| of the frame member I8,

and a horizontal arm 33 adapted to lie along the bottom of the bag at a corner thereof between the lining and outer material, as shown in Fig. 5.

To suitably house the horizontal arms 20 of the frame, a stiiened strip element 34 may extend continuously therealong and being folded adjacent to the axis of the hinge 22, to thus provide fold portions or sections 35, 36 which are free ended. The strip section 36 may be secured to the wall I2 .as by stitching at 31. To the strip section 36 a strip of material 38 may be longitudinally sewn as at 39 and clamped in the arm 20 of the frame member I9. The strip element is wholly free of the gussets and extends above the bars 25 to laterally conceal the same. If desired, the strip element may be undercut as at 40 at its fold line to provide a recess support for the tongue 28 in the open position of the device as shown in Fig. 3.

The width of the strip element may be uniform throughout with the section 36 adapted to also conceal the plate 24. The latter is adapted to have ample width to bear against the upper marginal edge portion of the second side wall I3 to thus assure reliable closing of the bag. When the bag is closed, the gussets are compressed flat and are thus held with the aid of the plate 24.

In order to maintain the second side wall I3 suiiiciently taut for the overlapping engagement by the plate 24, I may insert a suitable wire in the wall I3 between the lining and outer layer thereof, said wire having top, bottom and end sections 4I, 42, 43, 44, respectively.

If further support for the second side wall I2 be required, I may provide a releasable interengagement means, as, for example, with the frame I9, and which may be in the nature of a rack element 45 secured to the wall I3 with one of its vertically spaced teeth adapted to engage an irregularity 46 on the plate 24. Hence upon moving the side walls toward each other for closing position, the frame member I9 may be swung toward the right with the members 45,

46 adjustably interengaging so that the side wall I3 is reliably supported against slipping down and out, when the ring 21 is finally moved to bag closing position.

If additional support for the Wall I3 is desired and accurate automatic register with the wall I2 in the bag closing position, I may connect a frame member 41 hingedly at 48 to the frame member I8, and another frame member 49 hingedly at 50 to the frame member 41. frame members 41, 49 are arranged to lie below the plate 24 so as not to obstruct the same, and may be secured to an adjacent gusset I4 as by means of a strip of fabric 5I clamped in the members 41, 49 .and suitably sewed as at 52 to the said adjacent gusset I4. It is noted that the position of the hinge 50 may be the same as that of the gusset fold line I5, as shown in Fig. 8 in which the parts have been moved into an inoperative plane position for clearly showing the construction. When the bag is closed, the parts assume the position indicated in Fig. 9. It is thus seen that not only is the wall I3 Vertically supported, but relative longitudinal or horizontal movement of the side Walls I2, I3 is prevented.

The manner of using the invention will now be briefly described. To open the bag, the ring 21 is moved toward the left, the spring 23 facilitating the opening swinging motion of the flap or frame structure I9. The bag II may now be opened as fully as desired, and free access to the interior is had particularly since the wall I3 begins at a lower point as hereinbefore described. If now it be desired to close the bag the operator may swing the frame or flap structure I9 toward the right, and assure that the wall I3 is in proper position, and then move the ring 21 toward the right to hold the bag closed. The ring 21 may be representative of any releasable locking device at the right, that is, remote from the fold line of the strip 34, and hence the operation of moving the ring 21 may be avoided. In closing the bag, the elements 45, 46 may automatically engage to support the wall I3. By utilizing the structure of Figs. 8 and 9, the elements 45, 46 may be omitted and proper positioning of the wall I3 assured, and with the closing of the bag as by the swinging frame member I9 facilitated. Thus the latter may have a camming engagement against the element 49 to facilitate closing of the bag. When the bag is fully closed, the ring member 21 or other locking device interconnects the walls I2, I3 remotely from the hinges 22 to assure register of the walls I2, I3.

I claim:

1. A portable receptacle including a bag closed at the bottom and having a top opening, said bag having first and second side Walls, angle frame members for the respective side Walls, the frame members having arms extending generally horizontally along said opening and having their other upright arms located at an end of the bag and extending downward, the upright arms being pivotally interconnected for relative movement of horizontally extending arms toward and away from each other to cause closing and opening of the bag, one horizontal arm being connected to the first side wall, the second horizontal arm being relatively movable to the sec- TheA ond side wall and being adapted to engage the same in bag closing position, and means for releasably interconnecting the horizontal arms to maintain the bag closed.

2. A portable receptacle including a bag closed at the bottom and having a top opening, said bag having first and second side walls, angle frame members for the respective side walls, the frame members having arms extending generally horizontally along said opening and having their other upright arms located at an end of the bag and extending downward, the upright arms being pivotally interconnected for relative movement of horizontally extending arms toward and away from each other to cause closing and opening of the bag, one horizontal arm being connected to the rst side Wall, the second horizontal arm being relatively movable to the second side wall and being adapted to engage the same in bag closing position, and means for releasably interconnecting the horizontal arms to maintain the bag closed, and spring means coacting with the upright arms for causing relative swinging movement between the frame members tol move one of the horizontal arms to permit opening of the bag.

3. A portable receptacle including a bag having a rst side wall, a second side wall, and end gussets interconnecting the same, a strip element folded at one end of the bag and free ended at the other end of the bag, said strip element having one of its fold portions connected to the rst side wall along an edge thereof, the other fold portion of the strip element being free, frame members extending along and connected to the first side wall and to said free portion of the strip element, the edge portions of the side walls and the frame members being enclosed by the strip member in the folded position thereof with the bag closed.

4. A portable receptacle including a bag having first and second side walls having gusseted interconnection for movement toward and away from each other and defining a top opening, a first frame member connected to the rst side wall, a second frame member separate of the second side Wall and adapted to engage the latter to hold the bag closed, said frame members being pivotally interconnected at an end of the bag for movement toward and away from each other about an upright axis, frame means engaged with the bag remotely from the first side wall and being swingably connected to the first frame member about a fixed upright axis for movement toward and away from the first frame member, said frame means being movably supportingly associated with the second side wall and having camming engagement With the second frame member to cause the latter to move the frame means and hence to initiate movement of the second side wall to bag closing position upon moving the second frame member toward the rst frame member, and means for releasably interconnecting the frame members to cause the second side wall to be secured in bag closing position.

HARRY V. RITTER. 

